State estimation method and a battery pack

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides a state estimation method and a battery pack. The method includes: obtaining aging factor data, predetermined discharge data and predetermined capacity loss changing data; recording measured discharge data of a to-be-measured battery; calculating to obtain discharge voltage difference data according to the predetermined discharge data and the measured discharge data; determining a specific interval Sa according to the discharge voltage difference data, and obtaining a voltage difference statistical value ΔV 2,Stats  in the specific interval Sa; calculating an estimation capacity loss ΔQ D  of the to-be-measured battery according to the aging factor data and the voltage difference statistical value ΔV 2,Stats ; and determining whether the to-be-measured battery is abnormal or not according to the predetermined capacity loss changing data and the estimation capacity loss ΔQ D .

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of No. 110110182 filed in Taiwan R.O.C.on 2021 Mar. 22 under 35 USC 119, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a state estimation method and a battery pack,and more particularly to a state estimation method and a battery packcapable of detecting an abnormal condition.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, Li-ion batteries have been widely applied to many mobiledevices, such as mobile phones, tablets, notebook computers and thelike. Because the environmental awareness gradually increases, manycountries have set a time limit for the ban on the sale of fuel vehiclesand motorcycles. This will increase the popularization of the futureelectric vehicles and motorcycles. In order to ensure a certainendurance of each of the electric vehicles and motorcycles, the highcapacity battery is required. Therefore, the required number ofbatteries constantly increases, so the battery plays a key role in thedevice.

When the battery is being used, the battery may become abnormal due tothe improper operation and environment condition and the manufacturingproblem itself. For example, the battery may have the accelerated agingphenomenon, the inner structure change, and the detachment and metaldepositing problems. When these conditions occur, the minor conditionmay be the voltage loss and the capacity loss, and the most seriouscondition may be the triggered safety problem of the battery. So, how todetect the abnormal battery in a real-time manner is a very importantissue.

China Patent Publication No. CN108459272A discloses a state estimationdevice of a battery pack capable of estimating a state of the batterypack having electric energy storage elements. The state estimationdevice firstly obtains a low change region, in which the change of theOCV of the electric energy storage element relative to the remainingcapacity is small, and a high change region, in which the change of theOCR relative to the remaining capacity is higher than that of the lowchange region, and then estimates the state of the battery pack based onthe change position of the high change region of the electric energystorage element relative to the actual capacity.

Another existing method is to perform the judgement by detecting thechange rate of the internal resistance of the battery with the elapse oftime. However, such the method needs some additional operations tocalculate the internal resistance. For example, a load needs to be addedin a short period of time so that the calculation can be made accordingto the voltage difference and the current. Furthermore, such the methodonly can calculate the internal resistance of the battery at a timeinstant, and another operation is required if the internal resistance atanother time instant needs to be calculated. The change rate of theresistance with time needs to be calculated according to the resistancevalues measured at two time instants, and the time interval between thetwo time instants cannot be too long, so that the differential changerate can be obtained by the differential and approaching calculation.Therefore, using this method to detect whether the battery is detachedin the actual battery application will interrupt the original operationcondition of the user and even need the extremely short measurementinterval.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of an embodiment of this disclosure is to provide a stateestimation method capable of judging whether a to-be-measured batterybecomes abnormal. An objective of another embodiment of this disclosureis to provide a state estimation method capable of detecting theabnormal condition of the battery in a use process of the battery. Anobjective of still another embodiment of this disclosure is to provide abattery pack capable of executing the state estimation method.

According to an embodiment of this disclosure, a state estimation methodis provided. The method includes steps of: obtaining predetermined datafrom a storage unit, wherein the predetermined data includes agingfactor data, predetermined discharge data, and predetermined capacityloss changing data; recording measured discharge data of ato-be-measured battery; calculating to obtain discharge voltagedifference data according to the predetermined discharge data and themeasured discharge data; determining a specific interval Sa according tothe discharge voltage difference data, and obtaining a voltagedifference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) in the specific interval Sa;calculating an estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) of the to-be-measuredbattery according to the aging factor data and the voltage differencestatistical value ΔV_(2,Stats); and determining whether theto-be-measured battery is abnormal or not according to the predeterminedcapacity loss changing data and the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D).

In one embodiment, the predetermined discharge data is a discharge curveV₁, the discharge curve V₁ is a voltage-capacity curve. The measureddischarge data of the to-be-measured battery is a discharge curve V₄,and the discharge curve V₄ is a voltage-capacity curve. The dischargevoltage difference data is a discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄determined according to the discharge curve V₁ and a discharge curve V₃.In addition, the voltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) isdetermined according to a voltage difference between the discharge curveV₁ and the discharge curve V₄ in the specific interval.

In one embodiment, the step of determining a specific interval Saaccording to the discharge voltage difference data includes: dividingthe discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ into a tilted region and aflat region using a calculation method, and setting the specificinterval Sa as the flat region.

In one embodiment, the calculation method includes steps of dividing thedischarge voltage difference curve V₁₄ into multiple secants including afirst secant and a second secant, wherein a slope of the first secantsmaller than a first threshold value TH₁ represents beginning of theflat region, and a slope of the second secant greater than a secondthreshold value TH₂ represents ending of the flat region.

In one embodiment, the calculation method includes steps of: dividingthe discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ into multiple intervals andcalculating multiple variances of the intervals including a firstvariance and a second variance, wherein the intervals include a firstinterval and a second interval, the variance of the first interval isthe first variance, and the variance of the second interval is thesecond variance. The first variance smaller than a first threshold valueTH₃ represents beginning of the flat region, and the second variancegreater than a second threshold value TH₄ represents ending of the flatregion.

In one embodiment, the predetermined capacity loss changing data is apredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P). The predetermined datafurther includes: an upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and a lower-bound curveΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P).The step of determining whether the to-be-measured battery is abnormalor not according to the predetermined capacity loss changing dataincludes: judging whether the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) fallsbetween the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P)corresponding to the predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P);determining the to-be-measured battery as normal aging when theestimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) falls between the upper bound curveΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to thepredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P); and determining theto-be-measured battery as abnormal when the estimation capacity lossΔQ_(D) does not fall between the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and thelower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predetermined capacityloss curve ΔCQ_(P).

In one embodiment, the step of determining whether the to-be-measuredbattery is abnormal or not according to the predetermined capacity losschanging data further includes: obtaining a current cycle number Ncy,wherein a predetermined capacity loss ΔQ_(P) is obtained according tothe predetermined capacity loss changing data and the cycle number Ncy;and comparing the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) with the predeterminedcapacity loss ΔQ_(P), and judging whether the estimation capacity lossΔQ_(D) falls between the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and the lower-boundcurve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predetermined capacity loss curveΔCQ_(P). In one embodiment, preferably, the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) isthe predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) plus an upper limit γ₁,and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) is the predetermined capacity losscurve ΔCQ_(P) minus a lower limit γ₂. The step of comparing theestimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) with the predetermined capacity lossΔQ_(P) includes: judging whether |ΔQ_(D)−ΔQ_(P)| exceeds the upper limitγ₁ or the lower limit γ₂.

In one embodiment, the aging factor data includes at least one agingfactor β; and the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D)=β×ΔV_(2,Stats). In oneembodiment, the at least one aging factor β is determined according to apredetermined capacity loss ΔQ₁ and a first statistical valueΔV_(1,Stats), and β=ΔQ₁/ΔV_(1,Stats), and the predetermined capacityloss ΔQ₁ is determined according to the discharge curve V₁ and adischarge curve V₂; and the first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) isdetermined according to a specific interval Sa of a discharge voltagedifference curve V₁₂ of the discharge curve V₁ and the discharge curveV₂.

In one embodiment, the voltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats)is a mean ΔV_(2,avg) of voltage differences in the specific interval Saof the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ obtained from thedischarge curve V₁ and the discharge curve V₄, and the first statisticalvalue ΔV_(1,Stats) is a mean V_(1,avg) of voltage differences in thespecific interval Sa of the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂obtained from the discharge curve V₁ and the discharge curve V₂. In oneembodiment, at least one of the upper limit γ₁ and the lower limit γ₂ isa constant or a variable value determined by a function.

In one embodiment, the state estimation method further includes:outputting a warning signal when the to-be-measured battery isdetermined as abnormal.

According to an embodiment of this disclosure, a battery pack isprovided. The battery pack includes a battery and a control device. Thecontrol device electrically connected to the battery executes the stateestimation method.

As mentioned hereinabove, the state estimation method according to anembodiment of this disclosure can measure the discharge voltagedifference curve of the voltage difference versus the capacity, and thendetermine a specific interval Sa according to the discharge voltagedifference curve, and then determine the capacity loss ΔQ_(D−) of theto-be-measured battery according to the specific interval Sa andpre-established aging factor β, and finally judge whether the capacityloss ΔQ_(D−) becomes abnormal to detect whether the battery has theabnormal condition. Thus, the abnormal condition of the battery can bedetected in the use process of the battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a battery pack according toan embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing determining of predetermined data of astate estimation method according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 3A shows multiple discharge curves of different cycle numbersaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 3B shows a discharge voltage difference curve of the voltagedifference versus the capacity according to an embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 4A is a graph showing a β change versus different aging conditionsaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a graph showing a β change versus different aging conditionsaccording to another embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows curves of the cycle number versus the capacity loss.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a state estimation method according toanother embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a discharge voltage difference curve of the voltagedifference versus the capacity according to another embodiment of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 8A is a graph for explaining a method of calculating a specificinterval according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 8B is a graph for explaining a method of calculating a specificinterval according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of this disclosure provides a state estimation methodcapable of detecting whether a battery pack has an abnormal conditionaccording to the steps of obtaining a specific interval Sa of a curve ofa voltage difference versus a capacity, determining a capacity lossΔQ_(D−) according to a pre-established aging factor β and the specificinterval Sa, and finally judging whether the capacity loss ΔQ_(D−)becomes abnormal.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a battery pack according toan embodiment of this disclosure. The state estimation method isapplicable to a battery pack 300. Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack300 includes a battery device 310 and a control device 320. The batterydevice 310 includes at least one battery 311. The control device 320 canexecute the state estimation method, and includes a storage unit 321, adetection unit 322 and a processing unit 323. The storage unit 321 maybe, for example, a memory for storing various kinds of predetermineddata, such as a pre-obtained predetermined aging factor β, apredetermined discharge curve V₁, a predetermined capacity loss changeand other detection data. The detection unit 322 connected to thebattery 311 of the battery device 310 obtains battery information of thebattery 311, such as the voltage and the like. The processing unit 323obtains the data required by the state estimation method from thestorage unit 321 and the detection unit 322, and detects whether thebatteries 311 have abnormal phenomena. In addition, those skilled in theart can determine the structures of the battery device 310 and thecontrol device 320 according to the description of this disclosure, theproperties of the circuit elements for implementing this disclosureand/or the effects to be achieved for the implementation of thisdisclosure. Also, those skilled in the art may equivalently modify theimplementation of this disclosure according to the disclosed contents.In the following, the state estimation method according to an embodimentof this disclosure will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the determining of predetermined data ofthe state estimation method according to an embodiment of thisdisclosure. FIG. 3A shows multiple discharge curves of different cyclenumbers Ncy according to an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 3B showsa discharge voltage difference curve of the voltage difference versusthe capacity according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Before thedetection of the abnormal condition, the information for the detectionof the abnormal condition needs to be established in advance. It ispossible to perform the experiments of cycling aging of predeterminedbatteries in advance, and thus to obtain the battery discharge curveunder different cycle numbers, and the aging factor β is determinedaccording to the battery discharge curves. The following explanationwill be made in detail. Referring to FIGS. 2 to 3B, the method ofdetermining the predetermined data for the state estimation methodaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure includes the followingsteps.

In a step S02, two discharge curves V₁ and V₂ under different agingstates are obtained. As shown in FIG. 3B, V₁ denotes a discharge curveof a predetermined battery, wherein the predetermined battery ispreferably a brand new battery; V₂ denotes a discharge curve of an agingbattery; and V₃ denotes another discharge curve of the aging battery.Because the capacity loss increases as the discharge cycles increase, itis obtained that the cycle number Ncy (i.e., the discharge number oftimes) of the discharge curve V₃ is greater than the cycle number Ncy ofthe discharge curve V₂.

In a step S04, the capacity loss ΔQ₁ is calculated according to fulldischarge capacities FDC1 and FDC2 of the discharge curves V₁ and V₂. Inone embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the full discharge capacity FDC1 ofthe predetermined battery minus the full discharge capacity FDC2 of theaging battery leaves the capacity loss ΔQ₁.

In a step S06, the discharge curves are subtracted from each other toobtain the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂ of the voltagedifference versus the capacity. In one embodiment, the voltages of thedischarge curves V₁ and V₂ at the same discharge capacity Q in FIG. 3Aare subtracted from each other to obtain the voltage difference, andthus the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂ (FIG. 3B) of the voltagedifference versus the capacity can be thus obtained.

In a step S08, a specific interval Sa is determined. A first statisticalvalue ΔV_(1,Stats) of the voltage difference in the specific interval Sais calculated. In one embodiment, the first statistical valueΔV_(1,Stats) is a mean ΔV_(1,avg) of the voltage differences in thespecific interval Sa. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3B, the specificinterval Sa is a flat region “flat” in the discharge voltage differencecurve V₁₂. More specifically, the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂includes at least one tilted region “tilt” and a flat region “flat”,wherein an integral slope of the flat region “flat” is smaller than anintegral slope of the at least one tilted region “tilt”. In particular,although the first statistical value is a mean V_(1,avg) functioning asan illustrative example in this embodiment, the first statistical valuemay also be a median, a mode or any other statistical value of thevoltage differences capable of serving as an indicator or acharacteristic in the specific interval Sa, and this disclosure is notlimited to the mean. In one embodiment, a calculation method may beexecuted to divide the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂ into atleast one tilted region “tilt” and a flat region “flat”, wherein thecalculation method can be properly configured according to requirements.For example, a statistical method can be executed to find out thedistinguishing feature between the tilted region “tilt” and the flatregion “flat”, and the calculation method can be configured according tothe distinguishing feature.

In a step S10, the calculation is made according to the capacity lossΔQ₁ and the first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) to obtain the agingfactor β. In one embodiment, the first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) isa mean ΔV_(1,avg) and the mean ΔV_(1,avg) is divided by ΔQ₁ to obtainthe aging factor β of the discharge curve V₂. This disclosure is notlimited to the mean, and may also execute the calculation according tothe capacity loss ΔQ₁ and the first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) toobtain the aging factor β. In one embodiment, the first statisticalvalue ΔV_(1,Stats) is divided by ΔQ₁ to obtain the aging factor β of thedischarge curve V₂.

FIG. 4A is a graph showing a change of the aging factor β at differentaging conditions according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Ingeneral, the main mechanism causing the aging of the battery pack is thegrowth of the SEI film. When the thickness of the SEI film is constantlyincreased, the electronic consumption is increased, and the capacityloss of the battery is increased, so that the energy loss is caused whenthe lithium ions move in or out, and that the voltage drop of thebattery pack is increased. The voltage drop and the capacity loss of thebattery are caused when the SEI film is growing, which is a lineargrowing relationship. The voltage drop divided by the capacity loss(i.e., ΔV/ΔQ) equal to a constant serving as the aging factor β isobtained. If a graph showing the constant versus the cycle number Ncy ismade, the result of FIG. 4A can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 4A, theaging factor β does not change with the change of the cycle number Ncy.That is, the aging factor β is constant with respect to the cycle numberNcy.

FIG. 4B is a graph showing a change of the aging factor β at differentaging conditions according to another embodiment of this disclosure. Inaddition, in many aging conditions of battery packs, the change of theenvironment condition (e.g., the extremely high temperature, theextremely low temperature, or the battery pack operates under theextremely high current), the rapid capacity drop of the battery pack andthe growth of the lithium metal additionally occur. These agingmechanisms affect the ratio of the voltage drop to the capacity loss andthus change the value of β. In one embodiment, in order to obtain theaging phenomenon in response to the conditions, the aging factor β isconfigured to change with the change of the cycle number Ncy. As shownin the early aging period of FIG. 4B, the aging mechanism is dominatedby the SEI film, so the ratio of β1 can be calculated. After severalcycles have been added, the influence of other aging mechanisms changesthe ratio of the voltage drop to the capacity loss, so that the ratiobecomes β2 or β3.

As mentioned hereinabove, the change of the aging factor β where theaging mechanism is dominated by the SEI film is shown in FIG. 4A. Inthis case, only one value of the aging factor β is needed. In thecondition where the aging mechanism is not simply dominated by the SEIfilm, the change of the value of the aging factor β is shown in FIG. 4B.In this case, a table showing the change of the value of the agingfactor β with the change of the cycle number Ncy can be established. Asmentioned hereinabove, the aging factor data may be configured as aconstant aging factor β, or as including multiple aging factors β2 or β3according to different types of products. Those skilled in the art canmake a decision for the aging factor data according to different typesof products.

FIG. 5 shows a predetermined capacity loss curve of the cycle numberversus the capacity loss obtained by experiment; and an upper boundcurve and a lower-bound curve corresponding to the predeterminedcapacity loss curve. Referring to FIG. 5, the full discharge capacitychange obtained by the previous aging experiment is adopted to obtainthe predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P). Specifically, the fulldischarge capacity of the predetermined battery 311 minus the fulldischarge capacities of the aging battery ar different cycle numbersNcy, so that multiple sets of cycle numbers Ncy and their correspondingcapacity losses can be obtained, then the predetermined capacity losscurve ΔCQ_(P) can be determined. Finally, the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P)and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predeterminedcapacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) can be determined.

After the above-mentioned procedures have been completed and theinformation for detecting the abnormal condition has been established,the abnormal detection of the battery can be started, and the detailwill be explained in the following. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing astate estimation method according to another embodiment of thisdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 6, the state estimation method accordingto an embodiment of this disclosure includes the following steps.

In a step S11, predetermined data is obtained from a storage unit 321,wherein the predetermined data includes aging factor data, predetermineddischarge data, and predetermined capacity loss changing data. Thepredetermined discharge data is the relationship data of the voltageversus the capacity. The predetermined capacity loss changing data isthe relationship data of the cycle number Ncy versus the capacity loss.In one embodiment, the aging factor data includes at least onepre-established aging factor β, the predetermined discharge dataincludes the discharge curve V₁ of the predetermined battery 311 of FIG.3A, and the predetermined capacity loss changing data includes thepredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) of FIG. 5. In one embodiment,the predetermined capacity loss changing data preferably furtherincludes a pre-established upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and apre-established lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to thepredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P).

In a step S12, the measured discharge data of a to-be-measured battery311 is recorded. In one embodiment, the discharge curve V₄ of theto-be-measured battery 311 is recorded. In the discharge process of theto-be-measured battery 311, the voltage and the capacity are recorded,and the discharge curve V₄ of the to-be-measured battery 311 isobtained.

In a step S14, the discharge voltage difference data is obtained by thecalculation according to the predetermined discharge data and themeasured discharge data. In one embodiment, a discharge voltagedifference curve V₁₄ is obtained by the calculation according to thedischarge curve V₁ and the discharge curve V₄. FIG. 7 shows a dischargevoltage difference curve of the voltage difference versus the capacityaccording to another embodiment of this disclosure. In one embodiment,as shown in FIG. 7, the voltages of the discharge curves V₁ and V₄ atthe same discharge capacity Q are subtracted from each other to obtain avoltage difference ΔV₂, so that the discharge voltage difference curveV₁₄ of the voltage difference versus the capacity is determinedaccording to multiple sets of discharge capacities Q and voltagedifferences ΔV₂.

In a step S16, a specific interval Sa is determined according to thedischarge voltage difference data, and a voltage difference statisticalvalue ΔV_(2,Stats) in the specific interval Sa is obtained. In oneembodiment, a specific interval Sa is determined according to thedischarge voltage difference curve V₁₄. In one embodiment, the voltagedifference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) may be a mean, a median, amode and the like. Preferably, the voltage difference statistical valueΔV_(2,Stats) is the mean. In one embodiment, the voltage differencestatistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) is a mean ΔV_(2,avg) of voltagedifferences of the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ in thespecific interval Sa.

In a step S18, a current cycle number Ncy is recorded.

In a step S20, an estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) of the to-be-measuredbattery 311 is calculated according to the aging factor data and thevoltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats). In one embodiment,the corresponding aging factor β is multiplied by the voltage differencestatistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) to obtain the estimation capacity loss.That is, the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D)=β×ΔV_(2,Stats). In oneembodiment, the corresponding aging factor β is multiplied by thevoltage difference mean ΔV_(2,avg) to obtain the estimation capacityloss. That is, the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D)=β×ΔV_(2,avg).

In a step S22, whether the to-be-measured battery 311 is abnormal isdetermined according to the predetermined capacity loss changing dataand the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D). Referring to FIG. 5 in oneembodiment, the step S22 judges whether the estimation capacity lossΔQ_(D) falls between an upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and a lower-boundcurve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predetermined capacity loss curveΔCQ_(P) to determine whether the to-be-measured battery 311 is abnormal.

In one embodiment, the step S22 includes the following steps.

In a step S42 (not shown), a predetermined capacity loss ΔQ_(P) isobtained according to the predetermined capacity loss changing data andthe cycle number Ncy. In one embodiment, the predetermined capacity lossΔQ_(P) corresponding to the current cycle number Ncy is found outaccording to the predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) of FIG. 5 andthe current cycle number Ncy.

In a step S44 (not shown), the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) iscompared with the predetermined capacity loss ΔQ_(P) to judge whetherthe to-be-measured battery 311 is abnormal. When the judgement result isaffirmative, the process enters the step S26. When the judgement resultis negative, the process enters the step S12.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the curve ΔCQ_(P) represents therelationship between the cycle numbers Ncy established from thepredetermined battery 311, and the predetermined capacity losses ΔQ_(P)thereof, and the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curveΔLQ_(P) are determined according to the predetermined capacity losscurve ΔCQ_(P). In detecting the capacity loss ΔQ_(D) of the currentcycle number Ncy, if the detection result falls within the normalregion, as shown in the point P1, then it represents that theto-be-measured battery is a normal battery. If the detection resultfalls outside the normal region, as shown in the point P2, then itrepresents that the battery is abnormal.

In a step S24, warning is outputted. When the detection result fallsoutside the normal region, the battery is regarded as abnormal. In thiscase, a warning signal needs to be outputted. The warning signal may bean audio signal, a LED light signal or a simple data signal for theprocessing unit 323 to execute a warning program.

In one embodiment, the capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P), the upper boundcurve ΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) satisfy a function ofγ=a×Ncy^(b), where γ denotes the capacity loss ΔQ, Ncy denotes the cyclenumber, and “a” and “b” are constants. After the constants “a” and “b”of the capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) have been obtained, the values of theconstants “a” and “b” of the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and thelower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) are respectively set according to the productspecification.

In one embodiment, the capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) satisfies thefunction of γ=a×Ncy^(b), wherein the capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) plus anupper limit γ₁ and minus a lower limit γ₂ leaves the upper bound curveΔUQ_(P) (e.g., a×Ncy^(b)+γ₁) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) (e.g.,a×Ncy^(b)−γ₂). In one embodiment, the upper limit γ₁ or the lower limitγ₂ may be a constant; and the upper limit γ₁ may be the same as ordifferent from the lower limit γ₂. In one embodiment, the upper limit γ₁or the lower limit γ₂ may be a constant, and a×Ncy^(b)+γ₁≥0 ora×Ncy^(b)−γ₂≥0, where γ₁ and γ₂ may be two constants or two variables,or may be one constant and one variable. Preferably, the variable valuemay be determined by a function.

In one embodiment, γ₁ may be a function of γ₁=a₁×Ncy^(b1), or γ₂ may bea function of γ₂=a₂×Ncy^(b2); and when the constants “a₁” and “a₂” inthese functions are equal to 0, it is judged whether ΔQ_(D) falls on thepoint of ΔQ_(P) at the same cycle number Ncy. In one embodiment, it isjudged whether |ΔQ_(D)−ΔQ_(P)| exceeds the upper limit γ₁ or the lowerlimit γ₂ to determine whether the to-be-measured battery 311 isabnormal. It should be noted that the constants “a” and “b” of eachcurve may change according to the characteristic of the correspondingcurve. It should be understood that the above-mentioned embodimentsfunction as examples, and those skilled in the art may arbitrarilycombine the calculation methods of the upper limit γ₁ or the lower limitγ₂ according to the embodiment.

The specific interval Sa may be determined by various calculations.Preferably, the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ includes a tiltedregion “tilt” and a flat region “flat”, wherein the integral slope ofthe flat region “flat” is smaller than the integral slope of the tiltedregion “tilt”, and the specific interval Sa is set as the flat region“flat”. In one embodiment, the integral slope is determined by dividingthe discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ into multiple secants, or iscomposed of the secants. FIG. 8A is a graph for explaining a method ofcalculating a specific interval according to an embodiment of thisdisclosure. FIG. 8A provides a slope method for determining the specificinterval Sa according to slopes. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 8A,the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ is divided into multiplesecants per each interval ΔQ, and a secant slope “s_(i)” of each secantis calculated. For example, the secant slope s₁ may be represented as

s₁ = (ΔV₂ − ΔV₁)/(Q₂ − Q₁).

When the secant slope “s_(i)” is smaller than (<) a threshold value TH₁,it represents the beginning of the flat region. When the secant slope“s_(i)” is greater than (>) a threshold value TH₂, it represents theending of the flat region. In one embodiment, the integral slope isdetermined by and composed of multiple intervals of the dischargevoltage difference curve V₁₄. FIG. 8B is a graph for explaining a methodof calculating a specific interval according to another embodiment ofthis disclosure. FIG. 8B provides a variance method for determining thespecific interval Sa according to variances. In one embodiment as shownin FIG. 8B, the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ is divided intomultiple intervals per each interval ΔQ, and a variance σ_(i) of eachinterval is calculated from the position of 0 to the current position.When the variance σ_(i) is smaller than (<) a threshold value TH₃, itrepresents the beginning of the flat region. When the variance σ_(i) isgreater than (>) a threshold value TH₄, it represents the ending of theflat region. Regarding to the example of the calculation of the varianceσ₁, if N voltage differences are present in the interval, then thevariance σ₁ may be determined by the following Equation (1).

$\begin{matrix}{{\sigma_{1} = {\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{N}{\left( {{\Delta V_{i}} - \mu} \right)^{2}/N}}},} & {{Equation}(1)}\end{matrix}$

where μ may be determined by the following Equation (2).

$\begin{matrix}{\mu = {\frac{\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{N}{\Delta V_{i}}}{N}.}} & {{Equation}(2)}\end{matrix}$

It should be noted that the above-mentioned data may be multiple sets ofdiscrete values, and the curves may be obtained by calculating thesediscrete numbers using mathematical or statistical algorithms.

In summary, an embodiment of this disclosure provides a state estimationmethod capable of measuring the discharge voltage difference curveassociated with the voltage difference and the capacity, and thendetermining a specific interval Sa according to the discharge voltagedifference curve, and then determining the capacity loss ΔQ_(D−) of theto-be-measured battery according to the specific interval Sa and thepre-established aging factor β, and finally judging whether the capacityloss ΔQ_(D−) becomes abnormal, so that it can be determined that whetherthe battery has the abnormal condition. Therefore, it is possible todetect the abnormal condition of the battery in the use process of thebattery without performing other additional operations, or without theextremely short measurement interval.

1. A state estimation method, comprising steps of: obtainingpredetermined data from a storage unit, wherein the predetermined datacomprises aging factor data, predetermined discharge data andpredetermined capacity loss changing data; obtaining measured dischargedata of a to-be-measured battery; calculating to obtain dischargevoltage difference data according to the predetermined discharge dataand the measured discharge data; determining a specific interval Saaccording to the discharge voltage difference data, and obtaining avoltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) in the specificinterval Sa; calculating an estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) of theto-be-measured battery according to the aging factor data and thevoltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats); and determiningwhether the to-be-measured battery is abnormal or not according to thepredetermined capacity loss changing data and the estimation capacityloss ΔQ_(D).
 2. The state estimation method according to claim 1,wherein: the predetermined discharge data is a discharge curve V₁, andthe discharge curve V₁ is a voltage-capacity curve; the measureddischarge data of the to-be-measured battery is a discharge curve V₄,and the discharge curve V₄ is a voltage-capacity curve; the dischargevoltage difference data is a discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄determined according to the discharge curve V₁ and the discharge curveV₄; and the voltage difference statistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) isdetermined according to a voltage difference between the discharge curveV₁ and the discharge curve V₄ in the specific interval.
 3. The stateestimation method according to claim 2, wherein: the step of determiningthe specific interval Sa according to the discharge voltage differencedata comprises: dividing the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ intoa tilted region and a flat region using a calculation method, andsetting the specific interval Sa as the flat region.
 4. The stateestimation method according to claim 3, wherein the calculation methodcomprises: dividing the discharge voltage difference curve V₁₄ intomultiple secants comprising a first secant and a second secant, wherein:a slope of the first secant smaller than a first threshold value TH₁represents beginning of the flat region, and a slope of the secondsecant greater than a second threshold value TH₂ represents ending ofthe flat region.
 5. The state estimation method according to claim 3,wherein the calculation method comprises: dividing the discharge voltagedifference curve V₁₄ into multiple intervals, and calculating multiplevariances of the intervals, wherein: the intervals comprise a firstinterval and a second interval, the variance of the first interval is afirst variance, and the variance of the second interval is a secondvariance; the first variance smaller than a first threshold value TH₃represents beginning of the flat region; and the second variance greaterthan a second threshold value TH₄ represents ending of the flat region.6. The state estimation method according to claim 2, wherein: thepredetermined capacity loss changing data is a predetermined capacityloss curve ΔCQ_(P), wherein the predetermined data further comprises: anupper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and a lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) correspondingto the predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P); and the step ofdetermining whether the to-be-measured battery is abnormal or notaccording to the predetermined capacity loss changing data comprises:judging whether the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) falls between theupper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P)corresponding to the predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P), wherein:the to-be-measured battery is determined as normal aging when theestimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) falls between the upper bound curveΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to thepredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P); and the to-be-measuredbattery is determined as abnormal when the estimation capacity lossΔQ_(D) does not fall between the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) and thelower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to the predetermined capacityloss curve ΔCQ_(P).
 7. The state estimation method according to claim 6,wherein the step of determining whether the to-be-measured battery isabnormal or not according to the predetermined capacity loss changingdata further comprises: obtaining a current cycle number Ncy, wherein: apredetermined capacity loss ΔQ_(P) is obtained according to thepredetermined capacity loss changing data and the cycle number Ncy; andthe estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) and the predetermined capacity lossΔQ_(P) are compared with each other, and it is judged whether theestimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D) falls between the upper bound curveΔUQ_(P) and the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) corresponding to thepredetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P).
 8. The state estimationmethod according to claim 7, wherein: the upper bound curve ΔUQ_(P) isthe predetermined capacity loss curve ΔCQ_(P) plus an upper limit γ₁;the lower-bound curve ΔLQ_(P) is the predetermined capacity loss curveΔCQ_(P) minus a lower limit γ₂; and the step of comparing the estimationcapacity loss ΔQ_(D) and the predetermined capacity loss ΔQ_(P) witheach other comprises: judging whether |ΔQ_(D)−ΔQ_(P)| exceeds the upperlimit γ₁ or the lower limit γ₂.
 9. The state estimation method accordingto claim 7, wherein: the aging factor data comprises at least one agingfactor β; and the estimation capacity loss ΔQ_(D)=β×ΔV_(2,Stats). 10.The state estimation method according to claim 9, wherein: the at leastone aging factor β is determined according to a predetermined capacityloss ΔQ₁ and a first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats), andβ=ΔQ₁/ΔV_(1,Stats); the predetermined capacity loss ΔQ₁ is determinedaccording to the discharge curve V₁ and a discharge curve V₂; and thefirst statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) is determined according to aspecific interval Sa of a discharge voltage difference curve V₁₂ betweenthe discharge curve V₁ and the discharge curve V₂.
 11. The stateestimation method according to claim 10, wherein: the voltage differencestatistical value ΔV_(2,Stats) is a mean ΔV_(2,avg) of voltagedifferences in the specific interval Sa of the discharge voltagedifference curve V₁₄ obtained from the discharge curve V₁ and thedischarge curve V₄; and the first statistical value ΔV_(1,Stats) is amean V_(1,avg) of voltage differences in the specific interval Sa of thedischarge voltage difference curve V₁₂ obtained from the discharge curveV₁ and the discharge curve V₂.
 12. The state estimation method accordingto claim 8, wherein: at least one of the upper limit γ₁ and the lowerlimit γ₂ is a constant or a variable value determined by a function. 13.The state estimation method according to claim 1, further comprising:outputting a warning signal when the to-be-measured battery isdetermined as abnormal.
 14. A battery pack, comprising: a battery; and acontrol device, which is electrically connected to the battery andexecutes the state estimation method according to claim 1.